Scoop attachment for power-operated excavating apparatus



Nov. 17, 1925- B. C CLUTTER SCOOP ATTACHMENT FOR POWER OPERATED EXCAVATING APPARATUS INVENTOR. (2%

ATTORNEY Nov. 17, 1925. 1,561,694

B. C. CLUTTER SCOOP ATTACHMENT FOR POWER OPERATED EXCAVATING APPARATUS Original Filed May 26. 1923 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 H fi 19 7 29 2 1 u '1 l l I Hi I I I 7 INVENTOR. 6144' a 142W A TTORN EYJ Patented Nov 17, 1925.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

BIRD C. CLUTTER. OF AKRON. OHIO.

Application filed May 26, 1923, Serial No. 641.532. Renewed April 18. 1925. L

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, BIRD C. CLU'rrnR, a citizen of the United States, residing at Akron, in the county of Summit and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Scoop Attachments for Power-Operated Excavating Apparatus, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in scoop attachments used in connection with power operated excavatin or ditching apparatus, and important objects of the invention are to provide a scoop attachment of the class stated, which will operate automatically to adjust the scoop relatively to the boom of the apparatus during the ditching 0 eration and while the boom is shifting vertically to the dumping position; which positions the scoop to operate at a comparatively large are thereby maintaining the point of the scoop in the cutting position, as the pull of the scoop cable is always toward the open end of the scoop, thus preventing dragging of the scoo at the start and finish of the cut as experienced in the ordinary type of ditching apparatus; which will 0 crate to leave a finished uninterrupted itch bottom; and which may be readily attached to a ditching apparatus of the usual construction.

Further objects of the invention are to provide a device of the character described in a manner hereinafter set forth which will function to jiggle the closed end of the scoop during the scoo ing or ditching operation thereby facilitatmg the passage of the scoop through the materials to be removed and greatly expediting the operation of the apparatus; which permits of the use of the weight of the boom for forcing the scoop into the work during the scooping operation whereby capacity performance of the apparatus is maintained; which is simple In its construction and arrangement, strong, adjustable, durable and efiicient in its use, and comparatively inexpensive to manufacture, install and operate.

To the accomplishment of these and such other objects as may hereinafter appear, the invention consists of the novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts herein specifically described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings wherein is shown an embodiment 'of the invention, but

it is to be understood that changes, variations and modificatlon may be resorted to which come within the scope of the claims hereunto appended.

In the drawin s forming a portion of this specification an wherein like numerals of reference deslgnate corresponding parts throughout the several views I Figure 1 is a fragmentary side elevation of a ditching or excavating apparatus provlded with a scoop and attachment therefor in accordance with my invention, and illustrating various operating positions of the scoop and attachment device in dash lines.

Figure 2 is an end view of the closed outer end of the scoop and associated parts.

F gure 3 is an enlarged detail view illustratmg the latching element for the scoop.

Figure 4 is a top plan view of my improved attachment device and the scoop, assoc ated with boom members in the elevated position.

Figure 5 is a similar view with the scoop removed therefrom and with portions of the boom members and actuating bars broken away;

Figure 6.1s a perspective view of one of the bell crank hanger elements.

Referring in detail to the drawings 1 de-,

notes the frame structure of a power operated portable ditching or excavating apparatus constructed in t e usual manner and swivellmgly supporte on a suitable truck 2.

A pair of outwardly projecting boom members 3 are pivotally connected, as at 4, to the lower end portion of the frame structure 1 to allow of their vertical movement to the operating positions to be described. The boom members-.3 areispaced from each other and extend parallel with respect to each other. The free or outer ends of the boom members 3 carry a. pulley 5 which is mounted on the transversely extending shaft 6, suitably journaled in respective ends of the boom members 3.

Each of the boom members 3, adjacent to its outer end, carries a bell crank hanger 7 having its fulcrum 8, at transversely aligned points, on the inner face of respective boom members 3. The bell crank hangers 7 are connected together at their upper ends by a transversely extendin shaft 9. The outer ends of the bell cran hangers 7 are likewise connected together by a transversely disposed detachable shaft 10. The outer end of each of the bell crank hangers 7 is provided with a series of bearing apertures 11. The bearing apertures of one bell crank hanger are transversely aligned with respect to the bearing apertures of the other bell crank hanger, to permit of the adjustment of the shaft 10 in the bearing apertures for the purpose to be described.

A pair of hanger arms 12 carries theopen end of the scoop 13. The upper ends of each of the hanger arms 12 is plvotally connected toa, boom member 3 at the fulcrum point 8 of respective bell crank hangers 7. It will be noted that while the fulcrum of the bell crank hangers 7 is on the inner face of thc boom members 3 the upper ends of the hanger arms 12 are directly opposed and are pivotally connected to the outer face of the boom members 3. The lower ends of the hanger arms 12 are pivotally connected, as at 14, to the upper end of the scoop 1! adjacent to the inner open end thereof.

The outer closed end of the scoop 1; is supported by a hanger {11111 15 having its lower end provided with a yoke 16, which latter has its lower ends pivotally connected, as at 17, to the upper end of the Scoop 13 adjacent to the outer end thereof. The upper end of the hanger arm 15 is pivotally connected, as at 18, to the shaft 10, and is maintained centrally thereof by a pair of sleeves19 mounted on the shaft '10 on respective sides of the hanger arm connect1on 18.

The dumping bottom 20 of the scoop 13, is preferably rounded, and is ivoted, as at 21, at its inner end to the b0 y portion of the scoop 13.

The inner portion of the scoop bottom 20 carries a centrally disposed projecting catch 22 which extends into the 5 0t 23, provided therefor in the lower marginal edge of the scoop'end wall, when the bottom is in the closed position. The scoop end wall further carries a bearing bracket 24 in which a latching member 25 is pivotally supported, as indicated at 26. The lower end of the latch member 25 is adapted to engage the catch 22 and lock the bottom 20 in the closed osition. The upper end of the latch memlier 25 is adapted to be connected with an operating line for releasing the latch member 25 to effect the dumping operation.

A spring member 27 having one end socured to the scoop end wall, and the other end thereof to the latch member 25, is provided for normally forcing the latter to the locking position.

A air of actuating bars 28 connects the bell crank hangers 7 with the frame structure of the ditching apparatus. Each of the bars 28 has its outer end ivotcd, as at 29, to the transverse shaft 9 adjacent to re spcctive bell crank hangers 7, and each has its inner end pivotally connected, as at 30, to the frame structure 1.

During the ditching operation the scoop 13 is drawn inwardly toward the apparatus by means of a scooping cable 531, having one end thereof connected to the hitching member 32 which latter is pivoted to the inner open end of the scoop 13. The scooping cable 31 passes over the sheave 33, suitably journaled in the boom members 3, and is operated by a controlling drum of the ditcher ap aratus.

The boom members 3 and associated parts are shifted vertically by the operation of,

the boom hoisting cable 34 which is connected, as at 35, to the center of top marginal edge of the scoop end wall and passes over the pulley 5 carried on the forward end of the boom members 3. The hoisting cable 34 is controlled by the operation of the hoisting drum of the apparatus. During the elevating operation the scooping cable 31 is controlled at will by the o maintain the scoop 13 suspende orin any other osition desired.

It will be note that the distance between vertically the pivotal connection 4,. of the boom memhere 3, and the pivotal connection 30-of the actuatin" bars 28, is commensurate to the distance between the fulcrum point 8 of the bell crank hangers 7, and the pivotal connection 29 of actuating bars 28 with the transverseshaft 9. Under such arrangement the position of the bell crank hangers 7 will not vary regardless of an lar dis osition of the boom members 3 during the ditching or dumping operation. In other words, the shaft 10, carrying the hanger arm 15. will at all times maintain its horizontal alignment relatively to fulcrum point 8 of the bell crank hangers 7, while the shaft 9 to which the actuating bars 28 are con- "nected will always maintain its "crtical alignment relatively to the fulcrum point 8 of the bell crank hangers 7.

By the automatic adjustment of the bell crank hangers 7, by the operation of the actuatin bars 28 as above described, the cutting e ge of the scoop 13 will always maintain a cutting position even at the start and finish of the cut and allow of the construc tion of a ditch without the usual sinuated bottom. The adjustment of the transverse shaft 10 in respective bearing apertures 11 of the bell crank hangers 7, provides for variable operating conditions found in practice relative to the swce of the scoop and the depth of the excavation. The continual vacillation of the boom members 3 d u iug the scooping operation will transmit a similar movement to the actuatilw bars 28, whereby the bell crank hangers 6 will operate to jiggle the outer closed end of scoo 13, cansing the latter to be drawn throng 1 the marater to a (ill "boom terial' with comparative ease, thereby facilitoting and expediting the performance of the apparatus.

When the hanger arm 15 is connected with the bell crank hangers 7 so as to extend in arallel relation with the hanger arms 12, as illustrated in Figure 1, of the drawings, the scoop bottom 20 will always maintain a horizontal position durin the operation of the device. However, if he hanger arm 15 and the hanger arms 12 do not extend in )arallcl relation with each other, the angu ar disposition of the scoop bottom 20 will vary during the scooping operation.

Modifications of the invention may be resorted to without departing from the spirit thereof or the scope of the appended claims. The term inclination used herein is intended in its broadest sense to mean at angles from 0 upward so as to include positioning the shovel horizontally or at various inclinations depending upon the char acter of the work being done.

r What I claim is 1. In a ower operated excavating apparatus, a siiftable scoop, a shittable boom having its lower end pivotally connected with the body of the apparatus, a hanger means ivoting on a support carried by the elow the top thereof, a forward han er elementpivotally connected respectively to the scoop and with said means, rear hanger elements pivotally connected to the scoop and to said support, and an actuating device pivotally connected with the body of the apparatus and to said means for shifting the latter on said. support to maintain the scoop horizontal, during the shifting of the latter.

2. In a power operated excavating apparatus, a shiftable boom having its lower end pivotally connected with the body of the apparatus, a hanger means pivoting on a support carried by the boom below the top thereof, a forward hanger clement pivotally connected respectively to the scoop and with said means, rear hanger elements pivotally connected to the scoo and to said support, and an actuating device pivotally connected with the body of the apparatus and to said means for shifting the latter on saidsupport to maintain the scoop horizontal during the shifting of the latter.

3. In a power operated excavating apparatus a shiftable scoop, a shiftable twopart boom having its lower portion pi-votally connected to the body of the apparatus, a hanger means arranged within the boom and pivoting on a support secured to the boom below the to) thereof, a front hanger element pivotally connected to the scoop and to said means, rear hanger elements pivotally connected to the scoop and to said support, and a pair of actuating arms arranged above the boom and pivotally connected at their lower ends to the body time appara tus and-at their upper ends to said means for shifting the latter on said support to maintain the scoop horizontal during the shiftward corners of said hangers and with the closed end portion of the scoop.

5. In a power operated excavating apparatus, a support adapted to be carried by the boom of the apparatus, a shiftable triangular shaped hanger means pivotally mounted on saidsupport, a shifting means for and pivotally connected to said hanger means, a scoop suspension element pivotally connected to hanger means, and a pair of scooip suspension elements arranged rearwar ly of said element and pivotally connected to said support.

6. In a power operated excavating apparatns, a support adapted to be carried bv the boom of the apparatus, a shiftable triangular shaped hanger means pivotally mounted on said support, a shifting means for and pivotally connected to said hanger means, a scoop suspension element pivotally connected to ianger means, and a pair of scoop suspension elements arranged rearwar ly of said element and ivotally connected to said support, a shifta le scoop, and means for ivotally connecting said elements to said scoop at the front and rear thereof.

7. In a power operated excavating apparatus, the combination with a. boom pivoted at its lower end with the body of theapparatus, and a pair of triangular shaped hangers arranged within the boom at a point removed from the upper end thereof, of a shaft extending through the lower opposed rear corners of the hangers and through the boom and upon which pivots the hangers, a pair of actuating arms pivotally connected at their lower ends with said body and extending between the hangers, means for pivotallyconnecting the upper ends of said arms to the upper opposed rear corners of the. hangers, a scoop, a pair of rear sus ension elements pivoting on said shaft an pivotallv connected to the scoop, a shaftconnecting the forward corners 'of the hangers together and a suspension element pivoting on the last mentioned shaft and pivotal- I ly connected to the scoop.

8. In a power operated excavating apparatus, the combination with a boom pivoted at its lower end with the body of the aparatus', and a air of triangular shaped iangers arrange within the boom at a. point removed from'the upper end thereof, a shaft extending throt h t e lower opposed rear corners of the ian rs and t irough the boom and upon whic 1 pivots the hangers, a

pair of actuating arms piv ally connected at their lower endswith said body and extending between the hangers, means for pivotall connecting the upper ends of said arms to tie upper opposed rear corners of the hangers, a scoop, a pair of rear, suspension elements pivotin on said shaft and pivot-a llv connected to t ie scoop, a shaft connecting the forward corners of the hangers together and a suspension element pivoting on the last mentioned shaft and pivotally connected to the scoop, and said han ers having means to provide for adjustab y positioning said last mentioned shaft.

9. In a power operated excavating apparatus, the combination with a oted atits lower end with the body of the apparatus, and a pair of triangular shaped hangers arranged within the boom at a point removedfrom the upper end thereof, of a shaft extending through the lower opposed rear corners of the hangers and through the boom and upon which pivots the hangers, a pair of actuating arms p votally connected at their lower ends with said body and extending between the hangers, means for pivotally connecting the upper ends of s id arms to the upper opposed rear corners of the hangers, a scoop, a. pair of rear suspension elements pivotin on said shaft and pivot ally connected to t ie scoop, a shaft connectin the forward corners of the hangers together and a suspension element pivoting on the last mentioned shaft and pivotally connected to the scoop, and rear suspension elements pivoting exteriorly of the boom, and said forward suspension element having its upper terminal pivoting between said hangers and the lower terminal pivoting exteriorly of the boom.

10. In a power operated excavating apparatus, the combination with a boom pivoted at its lower end with the body of the ap- )aratu's, and a pair of triangular shaped angers arranged within the boom at a point removed from the upper end thereof, of a shaft extending through the lower opposed rear corners of the ban ers and through the boom and upon which pivots the hangers, a pair of actuating arms pivotally connected at their lower ends with said body and extending between the hangers, means for pivotally connecting the upper ends of said arms to the upper opposed rear corners of the hangers, a scoop,

a pair of rear suspension elements pivoting boom piv- 11. In a device of the class described, the

combination with a boom pivoted to swing in a vertical plane, a shovel carried b the boom. link connections between the s ovel cable for the and the boom, and means carried by the boom for automatically adjusting the link connections thereon by movement of the boom to hold the shovel at a determinate relative position with respect to'the horizontal. r

12. In in. device of the class described, the combination with a boom pivoted to swin in a vertical plane of a shovel Suspender from the boom by parallel links, and means for automatically adjusting the links by movement of the boom to hold said shovels in a horizontal plane.

13. In a device of the class described, the combination with a boom ivoted to swin in a vertical plane of a' s ovel suspended from the boom by links secured at spaced points forwardly and rearwardly on said shovel and arranged substantially in para]- lelism. said inks being relatively ad'ustable out of parallelism to vary the inclination of said shovel from the horizontal, and means for simultaneously adjustin the links by movement of the boom su stantially to maintain an adjusted position of the shovel relative to the horizontal in all positions of the boom.

14. In a device of the class described, a boom pivoted to swing in?a vertical plane, a shovel carried by the boom and ri id means connecting the shovel with the boom adapted to be operated by movement of the boom to maintain the shovel substantially in one position relative to the horizontal in all positions of the boom.

15. In a device of the class described, a pivoted boom movable in a vertical plane, a shovel, rigid means carried by the boom on which said shovel is suspended, and means actuated by movement of the boom for operating said rigid means to maintain the shovel at the same inclination with respect to the material acted upon throughout movement of the boom during the operation of crowding the shovel into the material.

16. In a device of the class described, a pivoted boom, a shovel curried thereby,.and an element actuated by movement of the boom for maintaining the shovel at a uniform inclination regardless of the inclination of the boom.

17. In a device of the class described, a pivoted boom, a shovel pivotally suspended froin the boom,- means for swingin the shovel relatively to the boomto e ect a crowding action of the shove], means for elevating and lowering the boom, and means controlling the inclination of the shovel automatically operated by movement of the boom and also operated by the shovel swing ing means to maintain the shovel at a uni form inclination in all of its positions.

18. In a device of the class described, a boom pivoted for movement in a vertical plane. an element carried by the boom, a shovel suspended from the element, and means connected to the element and actuated by movement of the boom for maintaining said element in a uniform relation with respect to the horizontal during movement of the boom.

19. In a device of the class described, a shovel, a boom pivoted for movei'ncnt in a vertical plane for actuating the shovel, means suspending the shovel from said boom, a, second means independent of the boom for actuating the shovel, means carried by the boom for actuating the suspending means to maintain the shovel at a uniform inclination, said suspending means being operable independently by actuation of said second means to maintain the shovel at a uniform inclination.

20. In a device of the class described, a shovel, a boom pivoted to swing in a vertical plane, means connectin' the shovel and boom and hingedly connects to each, means carried by the boom adapted to actuate said first means as the boom is elevated or lowered to maintain the shovel at a uniform inclination, said first means being adapted to be actuated to maintain said shovel at said uniform inclination independently of second-named means when the boom is not being moved.

21. Apparatus of the class described, including a relatively fixed support, a pair of elements hingedly connected to said support and to a third element, a second pair of elements hingedly connected to the third element, and a shovel hingedly suspended on said second pair of elements, whereby movement of one of the elements of the first pair will readjust all the elements to maintain the shovel at a uniform inclination with respect to said lixed support.

In testimony whereof I aliix my signature.

BIRD C. CLUTTER.

from the boom, means for swingin the shovel relatively to the boom to e eet a crowding action of the shovel, means for elevating and lowering the boom, and means controlling the inclination of the shovel automatically operated by movement of the boom and also operated by the shovel swinging means to maintain the shovel at a uniform inclination in all of its positions.

18. In a device of the class described, a boom pivoted for movement in a vertical plane. an element carried by the boom, a shovel suspended from the element, and means connected to the element and actuated by movement of the boom for maintaining said element in a uniform relation with respect to the horizontal during movement of the boom.

19. In a device of the class described, a shovel, a boom pivoted for movement in a vertical plane for actuating the shovel, means suspending the shovel from said boom, a second means independent of the boom for actuating the shovel, means carried by the boom for actuating the suspending means to maintain the shovel at a uniform inclination, said suspending means be ing operable independently by actuation of said second means to maintain the shovel at a uniform inclination.

20. In a device of the class described, a shovel, a boom pivoted to swing in a vertical plane, means connectin' the shovel and boom and hingedly connecte to each, means carried by the boom adapted to actuate said 35 first means as the boom is elevated or lowered to maintain the shovel at a uniform inclination, said first means being adapted to be actuated to maintain said shovel at said uniform inclination independently of second-named means when the boom is not being moved.

21. Apparatus of the class described, in cluding a relatively fixed support, a pair of elements hingedly connected to said support and to a third element, a second pair of elements hingedly connected to the third element, and a shovel hingedly suspended on said second pair of elements, whereby movement of one of the elements of the first pair will readjust all the elements to maintain the shovel at a uniform inclination with respect to said lixed support.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signaturc.

BIRD C. GLUTTER.

Certificate of Correction.

It is hereby certified that Letters Patent No. 1,561,694, granted November 17, 1925, upon the application 01" Bird C. Clutter, of Akron, Ohio, for an improvement in Scoop i-\ttachments for lower-Operated llxcavatinp Apparatus, were erroneously issued to the inventor, said Clutter, Whereas said Letters Patent should have been issued to the inventor, said Flutter, and one-Helm, t0 Leroy P. Clutter, 0f lVas/n'ngton, Pm, (oz/Z one-third to Georg e E. lVrlg aer, of Beaver Falls, Pm, jointly as shown by the records of assignments in this ollice; and that the said Letters Patent should be read with this correction therein that the same may conform to the record of the ease in the Patent ()flice.

Signed and sealed this 19th day of January, A. D. 1926.

[SEAL] WM. A. KINNAN,

Certificate of Correction.

It is hereby certified that Letters Patent No. 1,561,694, granted November 17, 1925, upon the application of Bird C. Clutter, of Akron, Ohio, for an improvement in Scoop -\tta(:hn'1cnts for lourr-Opcrated Excavating Apparatus, were erroneously issued to the inventor, said Clutter, whereas said Letters Patent should have been issued to the inventor. said 'luflcr, uml oneJ/rirrl to Leroy P. Clutter, of Washington, Pm, and one-Mimi to 601716 11'. Wagner, 0/ Bearer Falls, Pa., jointly as shown by the rcrords of assignments in this oiiice; and that the said Letters Patent should be road with this correction therein that the same may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Office.

Signed and sealed this 19th day of January, A. D. 1926.

[s WM. A. KIN NAN,

Acting Commissioner of Patents. 

